Power Pivot Device for a Plow

ABSTRACT

A pivot assembly for a plow may include first and second subassemblies. The first subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to a frame member and rotationally fixed relative thereto. The first subassembly may include a latch mechanism displaceable between locked and unlocked positions. The second subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to the frame member and may be rotatable relative thereto. The second subassembly may include a power pivot assembly and a cam member. The power pivot assembly may be drivingly engaged with the cam member and operable to rotate the cam member in a first rotational direction to a first position where the cam member urges the latch mechanism into the unlocked position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/756,154, filed on May 31, 2007. The entire disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to pivot assemblies, and morespecifically to power actuated pivot assemblies.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Plow systems are commonly used for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Currentplow systems can require the driver to get off of the vehicle to adjustthe pivot angle of the plow blade. A variety of other maintenanceequipment used in combination with tractors and/or ATVs, such as lawncutting and sweeper assemblies, can require a user to manually adjust arotary orientation of the maintenance equipment.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a pivot assembly may include first and secondsubassemblies. The first subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to aframe member and rotationally fixed relative thereto. The firstsubassembly may include a latch mechanism displaceable between lockedand unlocked positions. The second subassembly may be adapted to becoupled to the frame member and may be rotatable relative thereto. Thesecond subassembly may include a power pivot assembly and a cam member.The power pivot assembly may be drivingly engaged with the cam memberand operable to rotate the cam member in a first rotational direction toa first position where the cam member urges the latch mechanism into theunlocked position.

An alternate pivot assembly may include a rotating member, a latchmechanism, and a power pivot assembly. The rotating member may beadapted to be rotatably coupled to a frame member. The latch mechanismmay be adapted to be coupled to the frame member and may be displaceablebetween first and second positions. The latch mechanism may be engagedwith the rotating member when in the first position to prevent relativerotation between the rotating member and the frame member. The latchmechanism may be disengaged from the rotating member when in the secondposition to allow relative rotation between the rotating member and theframe member. The power pivot assembly may include a drive assemblydrivingly coupled to the rotating member and operable to displace thelatch mechanism between the first and second positions.

The power pivot assembly may include a motor, a planetary gear assembly,and a housing having a splined inner surface. The motor may be drivinglycoupled to the planetary gear assembly and the planetary gear assemblymay be engaged with the splined inner surface. The planetary gearassembly is operable to displace the latch mechanism to the secondposition and to rotate the rotating member relative to the frame member.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plow mount assembly according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the plow mountassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the plow mountassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a power pivot assembly of theplow mount assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the plow mount assembly ofFIG. 1 in a first position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the plow mount assembly ofFIG. 1 in a second position; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the plow mount assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

With reference to FIG. 1, a plow mount assembly 10 may include a frameassembly 12, a base swivel 14, and a power pivot assembly 16. Frameassembly 12 may include a series of tubular frame members 18, 20, avehicle mounting bracket 22, and a base plate 24. Vehicle mountingbracket 22 may provide for mounting of frame assembly 12 to a vehicleand base plate 24 may support base swivel 14 and power pivot assembly 16thereon, as discussed below. With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3,plow mount assembly 10 may further include first, second and thirdbearing plates 26, 28, 30, a coupling plate 31, first and second stopmembers 32, 34, first and second support members 36, 38, first andsecond pivot arms 40, 42 forming a latch mechanism, a lock plateassembly 44, a drive plate 46 and a cam member 48.

As best shown in FIG. 3, base swivel 14 may include a plate member 49having arms 50, 52 extending upwardly from opposite sides thereof. Platemember 49 may include a central aperture 54 and a series of slots 56extending therethrough. Aperture 54 may be generally circular and mayhave a diameter similar to an outer diameter of first bearing plate 26.Base swivel 14 may be disposed adjacent to the upper surface of baseplate 24, having first bearing plate 26 disposed within aperture 54,such that base swivel 14 is rotatable relative to base plate 24 aboutfirst bearing plate 26. Coupling plate 31 may be disposed between baseswivel 14 and drive plate 46.

Drive plate 46 may be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of baseswivel 14 and may include a plate member 58 having arms 60, 62 extendingupwardly from opposite sides thereof and a flange portion 64 extendingfrom a side between arms 60, 62. Arms 60, 62 may generally oppose innersurfaces of arms 50, 52 of plate member 49. Plate member 58 may includea central aperture 66 extending therethrough and a series of slots 68extending through flange portion 64 and generally aligned with slots 56in plate member 49. Aperture 66 may be generally circular and may have adiameter similar to an outer diameter of second bearing plate 28. Secondbearing plate 28 may be disposed within aperture 66, such that driveplate 46 is rotatable thereabout.

With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, lock plate assembly 44 maybe disposed adjacent to an upper surface of drive plate 46 and mayinclude first and second plates 70, 72 fixed to one another. First plate70 may include first and second arcuate-shaped apertures 74, 76generally opposite one another, a central aperture 78, and a series ofslots 80 extending therethrough and aligned with slots 68 in drive plate46. Second plate 72 may include a generally circular central opening 82having first and second sets of teeth 84, 86 generally opposite oneanother formed on an inner circumference thereof adjacent first andsecond arcuate portions 88, 90. Second plate 72 may further include aseries of slots 92 extending therethrough and aligned with slots 80 infirst plate 70.

First and second stop members 32, 34, first and second support members36, 38, first and second pivot arms 40, 42, and cam member 48 may bedisposed within lock plate assembly 44. More specifically, stop members32, 34 may have generally arcuate bodies and may be disposed adjacent toarcuate portions 88, 90 of second plate 72. Outer circumferentialsurfaces of stop members 32, 34 may form bearing and guide surfaces forrotation of lock plate assembly 44 thereabout, as discussed below. Firstand second support members 36, 38 may have generally arcuate bodies andmay be disposed within first and second arcuate-shaped apertures 74, 76of first plate 70. Outer and inner circumferential surfaces of supportmembers 36, 38 may form bearing and guide surfaces for rotation of lockplate assembly 44 thereabout, as discussed below. First and second pivotarms 40, 42 may be disposed within second plate 72 adjacent to first andsecond sets of teeth 84, 86, best shown in FIG. 5.

First and second pivot arms 40, 42 may be generally similar to oneanother, therefore, only first pivot arm 40 will be discussed in detailwith the understanding that the description applies equally to secondpivot arm 42. First pivot arm 40 may include an aperture 93 having a pin94 extending therethrough and through an aperture 95 in first supportmember 36, rotatably coupling first pivot arm 40 thereto. First pivotarm 40 may further include first and second end portions 96, 98. Firstend portion 96 may include a recess 100 therein and second end portion98 may include teeth 102 for engagement with teeth 84 in second plate72, as discussed below.

Cam member 48 may be disposed within a central portion of second plate72 and may include a central portion 104 having first and second arms106, 108 extending radially outwardly therefrom. Central portion 104 mayinclude an aperture 110 (FIG. 2) generally aligned with aperture 78 infirst plate 70. Arms 106, 108 may include arcuate radially outersurfaces for slidable engagement with arcuate inner surfaces of stopmembers 32, 34, as discussed below.

With additional reference to FIG. 2, power pivot assembly 16 may bedisposed adjacent to an upper surface of lock plate assembly 44. Asshown in FIG. 4, power pivot assembly 16 may include a motor assembly112, a gear housing assembly 114, and a gear assembly 116. Motorassembly 112 may include a motor 118 and a drive gear 122. Drive gear122 may be in a driven engagement with motor 118. Gear housing assembly114 may include an end plate 124 and a gear housing 126. End plate 124may be fixed to an upper portion of gear housing 126 and may have motor118 fixed thereto. End plate 124 may include an aperture 127 allowingengagement between motor 118 and drive gear 122. Gear housing 126 mayinclude a generally cylindrical body having a splined inner surface 128,which may operate as a ring gear, as discussed below.

Gear assembly 116 may include a series of compound planetary gears 130,131, 133, 135 rotatably coupled to respective cages 132, 137, 139, 141.Cages 132, 137, 139, 141 each may include lower plates 134, 143, 145,147 having driven gears 136, 149, 151, 153 coupled thereto for rotationtherewith. Planetary gears 130, 131, 133, 135 may be engaged withsplined inner surface 128 of gear housing 126, as discussed below.Driven gear 136 may extend axially beyond gear housing 126 and may bedrivingly engaged with cam member 48. More specifically, aperture 110 incam member 48 may include a splined inner surface 138 engaged withdriven gear 136, causing rotation of cam member 48 with driven gear 136,as discussed below.

Gear housing 126 (FIG. 4) may include a series of apertures 111 alignedwith a series of apertures 113 in first plate 70 (FIG. 2). Pins 117(FIG. 2) may be located in apertures 111 and apertures 113, fixing firstplate 70 for rotation with gear housing assembly 114, as discussedbelow. Third bearing plate 30 may include a central aperture 140 havinggear housing 126 located therein. A circumferential surface 142 ofaperture 140 may provide a bearing surface for gear housing 126, asdiscussed below.

Third bearing plate 30 may include a series of apertures 144 disposedabout a circumferential portion thereof and aligned with a series ofapertures 146, 148 in support members 36, 38, a first series ofapertures 150, 152 in stop members 32, 34, a first series of apertures154 in second bearing plate 28, a first series of apertures 157 incoupling plate 31, a first series of apertures 155 in first bearingplate 26, and a first series of apertures 156 in base plate 24. A firstseries of fasteners 158 may pass through apertures 144, 146, 148, 150,152, 154, 155, 156, 157 and may receive nuts 160 on ends thereof, fixingfirst, second and third bearing plates 26, 28, 30, first and second stopmembers 32, 34, and first and second support members 36, 38 to baseplate 24.

More specifically, first series of apertures 157 in coupling plate 31may include a threading. First series of fasteners 158 may threadinglyengage first series of apertures 157. Power pivot assembly 16, thirdbearing plate 30, lock plate assembly 44, first and second supportmembers 36, 38, cam member 48, first and second stop members 32, 34,stop first and second pivot arms 40, 42, second bearing plate 28, driveplate 46, and coupling plate 31 may be fixed to one another by thethreaded engagement between first series of fasteners 158 and couplingplate 31. Threaded ends of fasteners 158 may pass though apertures 155in first bearing plate 26 and apertures 156 in base plate 24. Fasteners158 may then receive nuts 160 on ends thereof. Therefore, first, secondand third bearing plates 26, 28, 30, first and second stop members 32,34, first and second support members 36, 38 may form a first subassemblythat is rotationally fixed relative to base plate 24.

A second set of fasteners 162 may extend through a second series ofapertures 163 in stop members 32, 34, a second series of apertures 165in second bearing plate 28, a second series of apertures 159 in couplingplate 31, a second series of apertures 167 in first bearing plate 26,and a second series of apertures 169 in base plate 24. Second set offasteners 162 may receive nuts 164 on ends thereof, further securingstop members 32, 34, second bearing plate 28, and first bearing plate 26to base plate 24. Base swivel 14, power pivot assembly 16, lock plateassembly 44, drive plate 46, and cam member 48 may be rotatable relativeto base plate 24 and may form a second subassembly that is rotatablerelative to base plate 24, as discussed below. Base swivel 14, lockplate assembly 44, and drive plate 46 may form a plow rotating member.

With reference to FIG. 5, an initial orientation of lock plate assembly44 is illustrated and generally corresponds to a straight orientation ofbase swivel 14 seen in FIG. 1. In the initial orientation, cam member 48is generally centered between stops 166, 168 of stop members 32, 34 andteeth 102 of pivot arms 40, 42 are biased into engagement with teeth 84in second plate 72 through biasing members 170, 172 acting on pivot arms40, 42. In this initial orientation, lock plate assembly 44 is generallyrotatably fixed relative to base plate 24 since pivot arms 40, 42 arecoupled to support members 36, 38 which are fixed to base plate 24.However, lock plate assembly 44 may be rotated in either a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction, as discussed below. For exemplary purposes,rotation of lock plate assembly 44 in the counterclockwise direction isdiscussed below.

Motor 118 may rotate drive gear 122 in a clockwise direction. When drivegear 122 is rotated in a clockwise direction, planetary gears 130, 131,133, 135 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Since lock plateassembly 44 is generally rotationally fixed by pivot arms 40, 42 when inthe initial orientation, planetary gears 130, 131, 133, 135 may drivecages 132, 137, 139, 141, and therefore driven gears 136, 149, 151, 153and cam member 48, in a clockwise direction. When driven in theclockwise direction, cam member 48 will eventually abut stops 166, 168on stop members 32, 34 (seen in FIG. 6), preventing further rotation ofcages 132, 137, 139, 141 and cam member 48 relative to base plate 24.When cam member 48 abuts stops 166, 168, arm 108 of cam member 48 mayengage pivot arm 40, biasing teeth 102 thereof out of engagement withteeth 84 of second plate 72. Lock plate assembly 44 may then be rotatedin a counterclockwise direction.

As drive gear 122 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction,planetary gears 130, 131, 133, 135 continue to rotate in acounterclockwise direction. However, since cage 132 is fixed againstrotation in the clockwise direction due to the engagement between cammember 48 and stop members 32, 34, gear housing 126 is rotated. Morespecifically, as planetary gears 130, 131, 133, 135 rotate in thecounterclockwise direction, the engagement between planetary gears 130,131, 133, 135 and splined inner surface 128 of gear housing 126 drivesgear housing 126 in the counterclockwise direction. Since gear housing126 is rotationally fixed to lock plate assembly 44, rotation of gearhousing 126 causes rotation of lock plate assembly 44 as well. Rotationof lock plate assembly 44 may be further translated to drive plate 46through a series of pins 170 (FIG. 2).

More specifically, slots 80, 92 in first and second plates 70, 72 may bealigned with slots 68 in drive plate 46 and slots 56 in base swivel 14.Pins 170 may extend into slots 80, 92, 68, 56, fixing drive plate 46 andbase swivel 14 for rotation with gear housing 126. Pins 170 may beremoved, allowing rotation of lock plate assembly 44 without anycorresponding rotation of drive plate 46 or base swivel 14.

Lock plate assembly 44 may be returned to the initial orientationcorresponding to a generally straight orientation of base swivel 14shown in FIG. 5 by rotating drive gear 122 in a counterclockwisedirection. More specifically, since pivot arm 42 is engaged with teeth82 in second plate 72, lock plate assembly 44 is prevented from rotatingin a clockwise direction. Therefore, when drive gear 122 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction while cam member 48 is engaged with stops166, 168, cam member 48 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Oncecam member 48 is generally centered between stops 166, 168 lock plateassembly 44 is once again oriented in the initial position discussedabove. While clockwise rotation of drive gear 122 has been discussed, itis understood that counterclockwise rotation of drive gear 122 willresult in opposite clockwise rotation of base swivel 14.

With reference to FIG. 7, plow mount assembly 10 may be mounted to avehicle, such as a utility vehicle 200. Vehicle mounting bracket 22 ofplow mount assembly 10 may be coupled to a frame 202 of vehicle 200.More specifically, vehicle mounting bracket 22 may be laterally fixedrelative to frame 202 and vertically pivotable for upward and downwarddisplacement of plow mount assembly 10. Base swivel 14 may have a plowblade 204 fixed thereto. Plow blade 204 may rotate with base swivel 14during actuation of plow mount system 10, as discussed above. Plow mountassembly 10 therefore provides powered rotation of plow blade 204.

While shown and described as related to plow mount assembly 10, it isunderstood that power pivot assembly 16 may be used in combination witha variety of other tools pivotally coupled to a mounting structure. Forexample, power pivot assembly 16 may be used in combination withmaintenance equipment such as lawn cutting and sweeping assemblies.

1. A plow mount assembly comprising: a frame assembly adapted to bemounted to a vehicle; a first subassembly coupled to said frame assemblyand rotationally fixed relative thereto, said first subassemblyincluding a latch mechanism displaceable between locked and unlockedpositions; a second subassembly coupled to the frame assembly androtatable relative thereto, said second subassembly including a powerpivot assembly and a cam member, said power pivot assembly drivinglyengaged with said cam member and operable to rotate said cam member in afirst rotational direction to a first position where said cam memberurges said latch mechanism into said unlocked position; and a plow bladecoupled to the second subassembly.
 2. The plow mount assembly of claim1, wherein said latch mechanism is biased into engagement with saidsecond subassembly when in said locked position, preventing relativerotation between said first and second subassemblies.
 3. The plow mountassembly of claim 1, wherein said first subassembly includes a stopmember, said cam member engaged with said stop member when in said firstposition.
 4. The plow mount assembly of claim 3, wherein said powerpivot assembly includes a drive gear and a planetary gear assemblyincluding a cage having a first and second planetary gears rotatablyfixed thereto, said drive gear in a driven engagement with saidplanetary gears.
 5. The plow mount assembly of claim 4, wherein said cammember is fixed for rotation with said cage.
 6. The plow mount assemblyof claim 5, wherein said cage is fixed against rotation in said firstdirection when said cam member is in said first position.
 7. The plowmount assembly of claim 4, wherein said power pivot assembly includes agear housing having a splined inner surface, said planetary gearassembly meshingly engaged with said splined inner surface, said cagerotating in said first rotational direction relative to said firstsubassembly until said cam member is in said first position and saidgear housing rotating in a second rotational direction opposite saidfirst rotational direction after said cam member is in said firstposition.
 8. The plow mount assembly of claim 7, wherein said gearhousing is rotationally fixed to a rotating member.
 9. A plow mountassembly comprising: a frame assembly adapted to be mounted to avehicle; a rotating member adapted to be rotatably coupled to said framemember; a plow blade coupled to said rotating member; a latch mechanismadapted to be coupled to said frame member and displaceable betweenfirst and second positions, said latch mechanism engaged with saidrotating member when in said first position, preventing relativerotation between said rotating member and said frame member, anddisengaged from said rotating member when in said second position,allowing relative rotation between said rotating member and said framemember; and a power pivot assembly including a drive assembly drivinglycoupled to said rotating member and operable to displace said latchmechanism between said first and second positions.
 10. The plow mountassembly of claim 9, further comprising a cam member in a drivenengagement with said drive assembly, said cam member rotatable to anengaged position wherein said cam member engages said latch mechanismand displaces said latch mechanism to said second position.
 11. The plowmount assembly of claim 10, further comprising a stop member adapted tobe rotationally fixed relative to said frame member, said cam memberengaging said stop member when in said engaged position.
 12. The plowmount assembly of claim 9, wherein said power pivot assembly includes amotor, a planetary gear assembly including a planetary gear setrotatably coupled to a cage and in a driven engagement with said motor,and a housing having a splined inner surface engaged with said planetarygear set.
 13. The plow mount assembly of claim 12, wherein said rotatingmember is fixed for rotation with said housing.
 14. The plow mountassembly of claim 12, wherein said housing is adapted to be fixedrelative to said frame member and said planetary gear set is drivenalong said splined inner surface of said housing for rotating said cagein a first rotational direction when said latch mechanism is in saidfirst position.
 15. The plow mount assembly of claim 14, wherein saidcage is adapted to be rotationally fixed relative to said frame memberand said housing is driven by said planetary gear set in a secondrotational direction opposite said first rotational direction when saidlatch mechanism is in said second position.
 16. A plow mount assemblycomprising: a frame member adapted to be mounted to a vehicle; arotating member adapted to be rotatably coupled to said frame member; aplow blade coupled to said rotating member; a latch mechanism adapted tobe coupled to said frame member and displaceable between first andsecond positions, said latch mechanism engaged with said rotating memberwhen in said first position to prevent relative rotation between saidrotating member and said frame member and disengaged from said rotatingmember when in said second position to allow relative rotation betweensaid rotating member and said frame member; and a power pivot assemblyincluding a motor, a planetary gear assembly, and a housing having asplined inner surface, said motor drivingly coupled to said planetarygear assembly and said planetary gear assembly engaged with said splinedinner surface, said planetary gear assembly operable to displace saidlatch mechanism to said second position and to rotate said rotatingmember relative to said frame member.
 17. The plow mount assembly ofclaim 16, wherein said housing is fixed to said rotating member.
 18. Theplow mount assembly of claim 17, wherein said planetary gear assembly isdrivingly engaged with said housing.
 19. The plow mount assembly ofclaim 16, wherein said planetary gear assembly includes a planetary gearset rotatably coupled to a cage, said cage having a cam memberrotationally fixed thereto, said cam member engaged with said latchmechanism and configured to displace said latch mechanism to said secondposition when rotated in a first rotational direction.
 20. The plowmount assembly of claim 19, wherein said cage is fixed against furtherrotation in said first rotational direction when said latch mechanism isin said second position.